Method and apparatus including hat and mirror

ABSTRACT

A hat, an attachment device, and a mirror are provided. The attachment device may attach the mirror to the hat. The attachment device may include a first loop shaped portion which is configured to be placed around a top portion of the hat. The attachment device may include an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width. A first end of the elongated member may be attached to the mirror and an opposing second end may be pivotally attached to the first portion. The attachment device may attach the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a first state, and cannot be seen by the person when the attachment device is in a second state.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning hats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for hats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a hat, an attachment device, and a mirror. The attachment device may attach the mirror to the hat. The attachment device may include a first portion in the shape of a loop which is configured to be placed around a top portion of the hat. The attachment device may include an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width. The attachment device may include an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width. The elongated member may have a first end and a second end. The first end of the elongated member may be attached at a first end to the mirror and the opposing second end may be attached to the first portion. The elongated member may be pivotally attached at the second end to the first portion.

The attachment device may attach the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a first state. The attachment device may attach the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror cannot be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a second state.

In at least one embodiment, a method is provided which may include attaching a mirror to an attachment device; and attaching the attachment device to a hat. The attachment device may be configured as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus including a hat and a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 shown in a first state;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 shown in a second state; and

FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 shown in a third state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 1 including a hat 10 and a device 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hat 10 includes a top portion 12 and a bottom portion or brim 14. The hat 10 has a front 14 a and a back 14 b. The device 30 has a band portion 32, and an arm portion 34, both of which may be made entirely of a rigid material, such as a rigid metal. The device 30 also includes a mirror 36 which is attached to an end of the arm portion 34. The mirror 36 may be rigidly attached to the end of the arm portion 34. The mirror has a reflective surface 36 b shown in FIG. 2A and 2C and a non-reflective surface 36 a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B. The arm portion 34 is connected to the band portion 32 by a pivot means 32 a which allows the arm portion 34 to pivot with respect to the band portion 32. The band portion 32 has a front 33 a which is located near the front 14 a of the hat 10 in FIG. 1, and a back 33 b which is located near the back 14 b of the hat 10 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the device 30 shown in a first state. In the first state of FIG. 2A, arm portion 34 has been pivoted about pivot means 32 a so that the arm portion 34 is parallel to a plane which is bounded by the circumference of the band portion 32, and the mirror 36 lies closer to the front 33 a than the back 33 b. The arm portion 34 is also shown in this first state in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the device 30 shown in a second state. In the second state, the arm portion 34 has been rotated ninety degrees about the pivot means 32 a. In FIG. 2B, the arm portion 34 is at a ninety degree angle with respect to a plane which is bounded by the circumference of the band portion 32.

FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the device 30 shown in a third state. In the third state, the arm portion 34 has been rotated ninety degrees about the pivot means 32 a. In FIG. 2C, the arm portion 34 is parallel to the plane which is bounded by the circumference of the band portion 32 and the mirror 36 is closer to the back 33 b than the front 33 a.

In operation, the arm portion 34 can be pivotted to place the device 30 in one of the three states of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C while the device 30 is on the hat 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The band portion 30, the arm portion 34, and the mirror 36 are oriented so that in the first state of FIG. 2A, the reflective surface 36 b can be seen by a wearer of the hat 10. In this way, a wearer of the hat 10 can look in the reflective surface 36 b of the mirror 36 and see behind them or just look at themselves in the surface 36 b of the mirror 36.

The arm portion 34 can be pivoted to the states of FIGS. 2B and 2C to get the mirror 36 out of the vision of the wearer of the hat 10, when the mirror 36 is not needed.

The mirror 36 may have a square reflective surface that is square, with each side being one and one half inches. The band portion 32 may be adjustable to fit on different hats. The band portion 32 may include a metal clasp for adjusting the circumference of a circle or ellipse created by the band portion 32 to fit different size hats. The band portion 32 may have a circumference in the range of twenty-seven inches, but may be adjustable. The band portion 32 may be designed to wrap around a cowboy hat. The arm portion 34 may be seven inches long as measured from the pivot means 32 a to the end to which the mirror 36 is attached. The arm portion 34 may be elongated and may have a width which is substantially less than the length.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a hat having a crown; an attachment device; and a mirror; and wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat; and wherein the attachment device includes a first portion in the shape of a loop which is configured to be placed around the crown of the hat.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the loop is a closed loop, and the first portion is configured to be placed around the crown of the hat so that an entire three hundred and sixty degree perimeter of the crown of the hat is encircled by the closed loop of the first portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment device includes an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width; wherein the elongated member has a first end and a second end which is opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the loop of the first portion; and wherein the second end of the elongated member is attached to the mirror.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the attachment device includes an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width; wherein the elongated member has a first end and a second end which is opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the loop of the first portion; and wherein the second end of the elongated member is attached to the mirror.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a first state.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror cannot be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a second state.
 10. A method comprising attaching a mirror to an attachment device; and attaching the attachment device to a hat; and wherein the attachment device includes a first portion in the shape of a loop; and wherein attaching the attachment device to the hat includes placing the loop of the first portion around a crown of the hat.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein wherein the loop is a closed loop, and wherein attaching the attachment device to the hat includes placing the closed loop of the first portion around the crown of the hat so that an entire three hundred and sixty degree perimeter of the crown of the hat is encircled by the closed loop of the first portion.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the attachment device includes an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width; wherein the elongated member has a first end and a second end which is opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the loop of the first portion of the attachment device; and wherein attaching the mirror to the attachment device includes attaching the second end of the elongated member to the mirror.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachment device includes an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width; wherein the elongated member has a first end and a second end which is opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the closed loop of the first portion of the attachment device; and wherein attaching the mirror to the attachment device includes attaching the second end of the elongated member to the mirror.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror can be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a first state.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to the hat so that a reflective surface of the mirror cannot be seen by a person wearing the hat on a head of the person, when the attachment device is in a second state.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion so that the elongated member can be pivoted into a first state in which the mirror is nearer a front of a head of a person than a rear of the head of the person, which is opposite the front, when the person is wearing the hat in a first orientation, and the elongated member can be pivoted into a second state in which the mirror is nearer the rear of the head of the person than the front of the head of the person, when the person is wearing the hat in the first orientation.
 20. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion so that the elongated member can be pivoted into a first state in which the mirror is nearer a front of a head of a person than a rear of the head of the person, which is opposite the front, when the person is wearing the hat in a first orientation, and the elongated member can be pivoted into a second state in which the mirror is nearer the rear of the head of the person than the front of the head of the person, when the person is wearing the hat in the first orientation.
 21. An apparatus comprising: an attachment device; and a mirror attached to the attachment device; and wherein the attachment device attaches the mirror to a hat; and wherein the attachment device includes a first portion in the shape of a loop which is configured to be placed around a crown of the hat to attach the attachment device and the mirror to the hat.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the attachment device includes an elongated member having a length and a width, with the length substantially greater than the width; wherein the elongated member has a first end and a second end which is opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the loop of the first portion; wherein the second end of the elongated member is attached to the mirror; wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion; and wherein the first end of the elongated member is pivotally attached to the loop of the first portion so that the elongated member can be pivoted into a first state in which the mirror is nearer a front of a head of a person than a rear of the head of the person, which is opposite the front, when the person is wearing the hat in a first orientation, and the elongated member can be pivoted into a second state in which the mirror is nearer the rear of the head of the person than the front of the head of the person, when the person is wearing the hat in the first orientation. 